Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia

Knowledge starts here.

Statins are lipid-lowering drugs used to reduce elevated cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Statins work in the liver to prevent cholesterol from forming. They are also known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Use this link for more information on our content editorial process.